Pittwater Online News

August 1 - 31, 2026: Issue 657

Mick at Mackerel

In June 2021 the Northern Beaches Council committed $3.2 million towards the wharves at Mackerel and Currawong beaches, and design for Church Point wharf. The upgrade for Mackerel Beach wharf was announced in the 2023/24 budget allocations as well.

The Great Mackerel Beach Wharf contract was awarded at the December 16 2025 council meeting to SMC Marine Pty Ltd for RFT 2025/001048 – Mackerel Beach Wharf Upgrade for the sum of $1,574,800 excluding GST. Works include extending the wharf by approximately 35m to approximately 105m total length to provide access at all tidal times for all users that complies with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1992. 

Key features of the proposed upgrade include:

• moving the wharf back to the area where it slopes to the wharf head
• extending the wharf by approximately 35m to approximately 105m total length to provide access at all tidal times for all users that complies with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1992
• providing a dedicated bin storage area.

3D model of the Mackerel Wharf Design. Image courtesy: Northern Beaches Council

Works commenced March 16 2026, and are expected to finish in October 2026, weather permitting. 

Funding for the works includes a Federal Government grant of $939,305 and $1,470,466 from Transport for New South Wales, as well as a previous grant for design. 

The Boating Now Program, under Round 3 (2020), also provided funds for Bilarong Reserve Boat Ramp Improvements, Narrabeen Lagoon ($60,000), Church Point Commuter Wharf Feasibility Study ($40,250), Currawong Wharf Investigation and Detailed Design ($82,500), and Mackerel Beach Wharf Investigation and Detailed Design ($70,657).

The 2026/27 Draft Budget lists:

• Currawong wharf renewal - design. In Budget as: ‘Special Variation - Part of a $4,300,000 program of works’ – grants already allocated for this include $1,108,026 approved by Transport for NSW, Executive Director, NSW Maritime. Date approved: August 2025. Program term: 30/06/2028 - and the 2020 Investigation and Design grant. 
• Bayview wharf renewal. Budget list this is also: ‘Special Variation - Part of a $4,300,000 program of works’ - grants already allocated for this include $594,625 was approved by Transport for NSW, Executive Director, NSW Maritime. 

The draft 2026/27 document states $1,898,000.00 is allocated for wharf renewal works in 2026/27, then 2,641,000.00 in 2027/26, 2,454,000.00 in 2028/29 and 1,454,000.00 in 2029/30.

The council is also undertaking works to support these wharf renewals, as in the REF's for the same. 

See report this edition:

Rooms Beneath the Tide: Seahorse Hotels Come to Pittwater by Wayne Lazarides

Bayview Wharf and Tidal Pool - construction update

On Wednesday July 29 the council stated 'essential maintenance of the Bayview Wharf groyne is now complete'. The like-for-like repair and replacement of the 40m heritage barrier was a necessary first step before upgrading the wharf and tidal pool.'

'Work to rebuild and upgrade the wharf and tidal pool is expected to start in September and be complete by December 2026, weather permitting'.

The NSW Government is funding the wharf/pontoon/boating component of the works and the council is funding the groyne works at Bayview. The council’s project webpage states work on the Bayview Wharf groyne commenced on 27 January 2026 and was scheduled for completion by June 2026. Works on the main wharf and tidal pool upgrade were expected to commence in mid-2026. You can follow the council's project webpage for more updates on the Bayview wharf and pool renewal - might be done in time for summer!

The Currawong wharf renewal was opened for feedback on a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) in September 2025, with the project webpage stating then Construction is scheduled to take place in 2026/27.The council is required to provide accessibility for all residents and visitors, ensuring the design is wheelchair friendly, as a condition of these grants.

Mackerel Beach dune planting works

The run across the estuary was also a chance to have a look at the council's foreshore plantings works as well. In June 2026 the council stated:

''work is underway on an important project to help restore the natural sand dunes of Great Mackerel Beach. The dunes are susceptible to coastal erosion, particularly when Great Mackerel Beach is exposed to swells.''

''During the month-long project, teams will relocate sand to enhance dunes and install matting and native coastal plants to help stabilise the natural dunes. The work will be completed in 2 sections, starting in the area north of the public wharf and then continuing south of the wharf on Council reserves.''

''Over the next month, a selection of 18 species of native coastal plants, such as warrigal greens, beach spinifex and beach fan-flower will be planted in the dunes on the council reserve'', the NBC said 

''The work on the sand dunes will typically take place between 7am and 6pm weekdays and may also occur on Saturdays between 8am-1pm. Beach and dune access will be temporarily restricted while the project is underway. Where possible, the council will minimise the impact of the temporary construction work''.  

Council conformed this week those dune restoration plantings are completed.

Restoration works had taken place behind this beachfront section previously. 

Ross-Smith Parade Mackerel Beach, July 28 2026

Early Winter is a good time to do planting out as the works have a chance to establish prior to the soil/sand getting too cold and the Spring tides or the king tides that run near Christmas each year (as reported by Ray Chappelow in 2014), which may swamp the site. Equally high tides can occur in the Winter months, up to 2.0metres, but these are at night and not as obvious as those at Christmas which generally occur during the day, and usually a bit gentler than those driven by winds during seasonal changes.

 

February 2020 at Mackerel - photos by previous Artist of the Month, Nat Bromhead of Pittwater Photography:

Mackerel's Sharon Green and Mick Hardy, both held in high regard in the Pittwater Community, were impacted when a mudslide caused by 330 mm of rainfall at Palm Beach on 17 January over a 12-hour period, destroyed the rear of their home. Mick, on duty despite what was happening at home, filmed what was happening in the flat section near Barrenjoey House and at Palm Beach Public Wharf. This section has also been flooding during high rainfall and high tide events since records commenced.